Library workers bring a sense of who they are to the work that they do-a collection of internal labels that describe what it means that they work in a library and that they are unique individuals. When they get to work, though, they are confronted with other sets of labels for who they are or who they should be. These are the labels provided by patrons, management, colleagues, and even the technology they use and the spaces they occupy-labels that are informed by events and attitudes in broader society that are increasingly hostile to anyone who doesn't fit the current version of "normal". This means that, while library workers source much of their self-esteem from who they are, they also face a barrage of suggestions that they aren't as good or as valuable as they think they are. Given the recent uptick in attacks against even the most basic equity, diversity, and inclusion support structures-as well as attacks on the profession itself-library workers are often left to face these recurring identity threats alone. In this workshopping session, researchers from the Public Library Routines Project-a project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services-will guide attendees through a series of collaborative activities intended to help them craft their own solutions to these pressing challenges. As librarianship continues to extend its reach into new frontiers and, thus, new demands on worker identity, these solutions will help library workers maintain their sense of self.
